Young Guns

Vince Young

Age: 24

Team: Tennessee Titans

All of Houston wanted its hometown son badly. Instead, the Texan suits opted for Mario Williams (oof!), and Rose Bowl hero Vince Young wound up in Tennessee, where he quickly launched a thousand “InVinceable“ headlines. Young won eight of his last eleven starts on his way to earning Offensive Rookie of the Year honors and, to the chagrin of Nashville, the cover of the jinx-laden Madden 2008. How did Vince morph so easily into an NFL field general? “I stay positive, walk the walk, be there for my teammates, and just have fun loving the game we’re playing.“ So when is Vince going to chest-bump Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher, like he used to do to his old college coach, Mack Brown? “That’s what we’re workin’ on,“ he says. Who knows? We just might see it in Phoenix this February.

Shorts and sneakers by Reebok.

Photo: Mark Seliger; Text: David Gargill

Matt Leinart

Age: 24

Team: Arizona Cardinals

Did you feel bad for Brady Quinn for dropping to twenty-two in the draft?

Yeah, dude. I went through the same thing. I actually text-messaged him during the whole thing, just saying, “Keep your head up and everything will work out.“

**Okay, what’s the biggest perk of your job? And don’t be like, “I get to play in the NFL.“ **

Well, you get a lot of free stuff. You get free clothes, and you get people who want to give you free suits.

**Okay, but your suits are too big on you. **

You’re crazy.

**I’m crazy? I work at GQ. **

No, you’re right. I’ll take your advice on that.

Cardigan by Polo by Ralph Lauren. Tank top by Jockey. Swim trunks by Nike. Watch by Icelink. Sunglasses by Prada. Her bikini by Tomas Maier.

Photo: Mark Seliger; Text: Beth Altschull

Brady Quinn

Age: 22

Team: Cleveland Browns

Although he shattered thirty-eight records at Notre Dame, the public’s current memory of Brady Quinn is the Table. As in the banquet table Quinn sat at, woefully and publicly, during the 2007 NFL draft until Commissioner Roger Goodell took pity and offered him refuge in a private suite. Finally, Quinn’s hometown Cleveland Browns picked him at number twenty-two—a bittersweet moment the coolheaded QB says he’s already gotten over: “They made their decision upon what they felt was best, and everything worked out for me. I get to play for the Cleveland Browns, like I always wanted to.“ Translation: The NFL’s most promising revenge story starts this fall.

T-shirt by Calvin Klein Underwear.

Photo: Mark Seliger; Text: Bryan Thomas

JaMarcus Russell

Age: 22

Team: Oakland Raiders

People tend to break out the weapon analogies when talking about JaMarcus Russell’s arm. It’s been called a “bazooka,“ a “cannon,“ and a “missile launcher.“ But it makes sense. When you see him on the field, you’re tempted to go for any military metaphor in your, um, arsenal. At six feet six and 255 pounds, he outsizes just about every other quarterback in the game. And yes, the guy can throw a football more than sixty yards, from one knee. Now, as the first pick of the 2007 draft, with the hopes of Oakland resting on that powerful arm, he pronounces himself ready: “I’ll do whatever I can to help out my team, no matter what happens. It’s all just fuel for my fire.“

Coat by Jerry Sorbara. Tracksuit, T-shirt, and sneakers by Nike.

Photo: Mark Seliger; Text: Raha Naddaf

Ben Roethlisberger

Age: 25

Team: Pittsburgh Steelers

At least this off-season, Ben Roethlisberger didn’t…well, you know. Last summer the Super Bowl XL champion was lucky to survive a scary motorcycle accident in downtown Pittsburgh and then followed it up with his most uneven NFL season to date, suddenly looking mortal as the Steelers failed to make the playoffs. Now the guy who won twenty-seven of the first thirty-one games he played is toiling for a new coach (Mike Tomlin, who replaces the square-jawed Bill Cowher), under a new system that’ll entrust him with the offense more than Cowher ever did, and he’s in peak physical condition. Then there’s that brand-new chip on his shoulder, which we have to admit to liking. “I like being the underdog,“ Roethlisberger says. “I like having everyone against me.“ It’s Big Ben’s challenge to the nonbelievers. We wouldn’t dare take him up on it.

Jacket by D&G. T-shirt by Nike.

Photo: Mark Seliger; Text: Greg Veis

Tony Romo

Age: 26

Team: Dallas Cowboys

…And then there’s this guy. Remember Tony Romo? His exhilarating debut made America swoon again for the Dallas Cowboys, but then he fumbled a last-second snap and botched a storybook season. But last year’s quarterback sensation is not going to let a few bumps spoil his ride. Pick up the September issue of GQ to read David Kamp’s story.

All of Houston wanted its hometown son badly. Instead, the Texan suits opted for Mario Williams (oof!), and Rose Bowl hero Vince Young wound up in Tennessee, where he quickly launched a thousand “InVinceable“ headlines. Young won eight of his last eleven starts on his way to earning Offensive Rookie of the Year honors and, to the chagrin of Nashville, the cover of the jinx-laden Madden 2008. How did Vince morph so easily into an NFL field general? “I stay positive, walk the walk, be there for my teammates, and just have fun loving the game we’re playing.“ So when is Vince going to chest-bump Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher, like he used to do to his old college coach, Mack Brown? “That’s what we’re workin’ on,“ he says. Who knows? We just might see it in Phoenix this February.